SAmuel and Mary Thorne
Samuel Thorne 1831-1892 Mary Thorne 1832-1905 Samuel was born in Stoke Wake, Dorset. He married Mary Trowbridge in 1853, in Yeovil, Dorset. It seems that Samuel moved up in the world as he was an agricultural labourer in 1851, a coachman in 1881 and a gardener in 1891. They had eight surviving children, seven daughters and one son, Sidney, my great grandfather. Each child has a different place of birth which shows that the family had to move around a lot and must have relocated from Dorset to the North East at some time between 1863 and 65. Pamela Elizabeth McCoach, a relative in Australia, researched the Thorne family tree and managed to find this family portrait, the earliest photo in my archive, but was unable to identify the individual sisters. The girl front centre is the youngest so must be Mary. They look remarkably alike. Their first child Anna died age 3. Presumably, this was when the family were at their poorest. The children were born at regular intervals. Anna 1856, Sidney 1858, Anna Mary 1860, Emily 1863 were all born in the south, but Charlotte Maria, 1865, Ellen 1868, Sarah Jane 1869 and Mary, 1872 were all born in the north. Intriguingly Emma, 1870, their 8th child, was born in Wiltshire. In her late thirties Mary had three children in quick succession, so I’m inclined to believe she returned to her family for support. The portrait must have been an exciting occasion. Here they all sit in their Sunday best. Most of the daughters have a gold locket. Samuel has a gold watch and Mary displays a gold Albert chain. Samuel looks rather stern, a true Victorian patriarch, but no one was expected to smile in photographs at this period. Exposure times were long, which probably explains why hands are supporting chins or resting on shoulders. It was impossible to maintain a relaxed expression. The invention of photography allowed working class people to have portraits of themselves for the first time. It led to family albums such as the ones I've inherited. Nevertheless, there was some fear of the camera. Certainly some of the daughters look ill at ease. Samuel’s father, also Samuel, lived his whole life in Stoke Wake. My relative speculates that he probably never moved more than a mile. By contrast son Samuel moved frequently and changed his employment. Perhaps his stern expression reflects the hardships and uncertainty he faced. For Mary too life must have been hard. Mary was the second child of Peter and Charlotte Trowbridge. Their first child had died when only a few months old. She had one sister, Harriet, who I know nothing about. Was it Harriet that she went to stay with in 1870, when she gave birth to Emma? Mary's mother had died of old age in December 1866. Much later, in1879 Sidney, my great grandfather, was to name his first child Henry Trowbridge Thorne, which must have pleased his mother. It seems that surnames from the maternal line were often given as Christian names to Thorne children. I don't know if this happened in other families. I was astonished to find that my mother had memories of three of her grandfather's sisters: Annie, Emma and Sally. Annie 'very stout, big hat, gloves. She lived in London so my mother rarely saw her.' Anna Mary Thorne was born in 1860, in Hazelbury Bryan Dorset. She was a dressmaker. Emma, 'small, thin, with whispy hair and a slight lisp.' Aunt Emma took her to 'the best tearooms in town and to the Dress Circle at Newcastle's beautiful Theatre Royal. These outings weren't a pure pleasure as Emma was very strict about etiquette and demanded the right cutlery for each course of a meal. Her niece had to be well dressed, 'but you must never embarrass your companion by being more expensively dressed than them.' I think she was fonder of Emma's husband Bob Charlton, who was head coachman at Alnwick Castle, and who gave me my teddy bear, and their two Pomeranian dogs,Squirrel and Gyp. Emma was born in 1870 in Wiltshire. She died young as Bob went on to remarry. I've photos of Bob and his new bride, but none I can identify as Emma. Sally, 'known as Tibs. She was a quiet little soul and lived at Hexham so I did not know her well but I thought she was lovely.' There isn't a Sally on the family tree. The sisters must have become more different as they aged, but I can't identify Annie or Emma from my mother's descriptions. |
Sidney and Alice Thorne
Sidney Thorne 1858-1930
Sidney was born in Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset, in 1858, and was baptised in the local church. He was an only son, with seven sisters.
Sidney came from generations of agricultural workers. His own father moved north from Dorset some time after his birth. Sidney might have been the first generation in his family to go to school as he would have been 12 when the 1870 Education Act was passed. He worked as a stationer and salesman, some steps up from a labourer.
Sidney married Alice Baker in Sunderland on 16 June 1878. They moved around but stayed within the region. In 1881 they were living at 6 Saville Place, Bishopswearmouth, County Durham. By 1901 they were still in the same county but had moved to Gateshead, to 154 Saltwell Road, a street that figures frequently in my family’s history.
There are a few photos of Alice and Sidney, passed down through the generations. Photos from this period tend to be formal studio portraits, but the photos of these two were taken at home. They seem relaxed and display a confidence in their status that Samuel, Mary and family lacked. I imagine that if you met them in the street they’d be dressed much as they are here. It seems likely that one of their ten children took the photos.
Sidney was only 20, Alice 18 when they married. Sadly, there are no stories about how they met. Possibly it was through their church, as Sidney played the organ and sang in choirs. Originally selling stationery, he became a travelling salesman for a sweet company. He outlived Alice so my mother had more memories of him.
‘Medium height, heavy moustache. Originally a wholesale stationer in the early years of their marriage moved around the area a lot, but a bit vague on this. Later, he became a traveller for a sweet firm. He carried on his round a case of sweets which the children were never allowed to touch. At the end of the week these were all thrown out and new samples put in.’
Sidney is never without his impressive moustache. There’s a certain flamboyance about him. He was the voluntary organist and choirmaster at St Chad’s church, where my mother, myself and my brother would later be baptised. I think he was organist from the opening of the church in 1898. He was presented with an engraved mantle clock in recognition of his service. We think this is still in the family but no one is sure where.
When he retired he taught music in his home and led a children’s orchestra. He probably taught the piano, which many families had in their home. Sidney is one of generations of talented, creative working class men who had no opportunity to turn their talent into a career. Even on his clock he’s inscribed as voluntary organist. I’m glad that he managed to make some money from music, though it’s possible he gave lessons for free. Money was scarce in 1920’s Gateshead.
My mother recalled ‘In the front room was an organ that had pipes up to the ceiling and three keyboards and lots of stops all over. This had to be worked by a bellows. He taught music in his home and also ran a children’s orchestra. There is a story that when he tapped his baton and called ‘Stand up’ to the children, one boy remained seated and he said ‘Stand up boy’, and the boy said ‘Please Sir am is’.
Robert William Seymour, my grandfather, a baritone, sang in the choir at St Chad’s too. His family also lived on Saltwell Road so it’s certain the two families, Seymours and Thornes, knew each other.
Sidney died on 6 September 1930. He left an estate of £632.3.5 gross value.
Sidney was born in Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset, in 1858, and was baptised in the local church. He was an only son, with seven sisters.
Sidney came from generations of agricultural workers. His own father moved north from Dorset some time after his birth. Sidney might have been the first generation in his family to go to school as he would have been 12 when the 1870 Education Act was passed. He worked as a stationer and salesman, some steps up from a labourer.
Sidney married Alice Baker in Sunderland on 16 June 1878. They moved around but stayed within the region. In 1881 they were living at 6 Saville Place, Bishopswearmouth, County Durham. By 1901 they were still in the same county but had moved to Gateshead, to 154 Saltwell Road, a street that figures frequently in my family’s history.
There are a few photos of Alice and Sidney, passed down through the generations. Photos from this period tend to be formal studio portraits, but the photos of these two were taken at home. They seem relaxed and display a confidence in their status that Samuel, Mary and family lacked. I imagine that if you met them in the street they’d be dressed much as they are here. It seems likely that one of their ten children took the photos.
Sidney was only 20, Alice 18 when they married. Sadly, there are no stories about how they met. Possibly it was through their church, as Sidney played the organ and sang in choirs. Originally selling stationery, he became a travelling salesman for a sweet company. He outlived Alice so my mother had more memories of him.
‘Medium height, heavy moustache. Originally a wholesale stationer in the early years of their marriage moved around the area a lot, but a bit vague on this. Later, he became a traveller for a sweet firm. He carried on his round a case of sweets which the children were never allowed to touch. At the end of the week these were all thrown out and new samples put in.’
Sidney is never without his impressive moustache. There’s a certain flamboyance about him. He was the voluntary organist and choirmaster at St Chad’s church, where my mother, myself and my brother would later be baptised. I think he was organist from the opening of the church in 1898. He was presented with an engraved mantle clock in recognition of his service. We think this is still in the family but no one is sure where.
When he retired he taught music in his home and led a children’s orchestra. He probably taught the piano, which many families had in their home. Sidney is one of generations of talented, creative working class men who had no opportunity to turn their talent into a career. Even on his clock he’s inscribed as voluntary organist. I’m glad that he managed to make some money from music, though it’s possible he gave lessons for free. Money was scarce in 1920’s Gateshead.
My mother recalled ‘In the front room was an organ that had pipes up to the ceiling and three keyboards and lots of stops all over. This had to be worked by a bellows. He taught music in his home and also ran a children’s orchestra. There is a story that when he tapped his baton and called ‘Stand up’ to the children, one boy remained seated and he said ‘Stand up boy’, and the boy said ‘Please Sir am is’.
Robert William Seymour, my grandfather, a baritone, sang in the choir at St Chad’s too. His family also lived on Saltwell Road so it’s certain the two families, Seymours and Thornes, knew each other.
Sidney died on 6 September 1930. He left an estate of £632.3.5 gross value.
Alice Thorne
Alice Thorne 1860-1924
It’s to her credit that Alice not only bore 11 children, but kept 10 of them alive. My grandmother, Florence Annie, was the 8th. Only her second child, Emily, died in childhood, aged 2.
Maiden name Alice Baker, she came from a much smaller family, being one of three sisters. Her mother had died of typhoid in 1862, when she was only two. Presumably her older sister Sara had to take her mother’s place until her father, a butler and waiter, remarried in 1865. He died in in March 1872, of heart disease, when Alice was only 12. Nothing is known of Alice’s life between this point and her marriage. I expect she went to school, then worked. Daughters in other branches of the Thornes ended up as servants, sometimes working for neighbours.
Alice was an important and highly respected figure in her local community. She helped women in childbirth and laid out the dead. My mother said she was often pointed out as Mrs Thorne's granddaughter long after her death.
Alice died of cancer in 1924. Both Alice and Sidney, along with three of their children, are buried in Saltwell Cemetery, division 2, grave number 1294.
In this photo Alice stands by her front door, with little dog, and one son, probably James or Thomas. She wears a rose gold bracelet on her wrist. That bracelet was passed to my grandmother and then to me.
It’s to her credit that Alice not only bore 11 children, but kept 10 of them alive. My grandmother, Florence Annie, was the 8th. Only her second child, Emily, died in childhood, aged 2.
Maiden name Alice Baker, she came from a much smaller family, being one of three sisters. Her mother had died of typhoid in 1862, when she was only two. Presumably her older sister Sara had to take her mother’s place until her father, a butler and waiter, remarried in 1865. He died in in March 1872, of heart disease, when Alice was only 12. Nothing is known of Alice’s life between this point and her marriage. I expect she went to school, then worked. Daughters in other branches of the Thornes ended up as servants, sometimes working for neighbours.
Alice was an important and highly respected figure in her local community. She helped women in childbirth and laid out the dead. My mother said she was often pointed out as Mrs Thorne's granddaughter long after her death.
Alice died of cancer in 1924. Both Alice and Sidney, along with three of their children, are buried in Saltwell Cemetery, division 2, grave number 1294.
In this photo Alice stands by her front door, with little dog, and one son, probably James or Thomas. She wears a rose gold bracelet on her wrist. That bracelet was passed to my grandmother and then to me.
Sid and Alice's children
Sadly, Sid and Alice never took their children to a photography studio and never posed for a family portrait. If such a portrait existed my cousin Pamela McCoach would have found it. My family archive contains a number of postcard size photos of individual Thorne children, some identified and some whose identity is unknown. The album with these postcard size photos came from my grandparents. Frustratingly, sometimes a page has a name, but has lost the accompanying photo.
Henry Trowbridge Thorne: Born on 14 January 1879 in Monkwearmouth, County Durham. He emigrated to Australia, with his family, in 1912. They travelled on the Waimana, White Star Line. The ships passenger list gives details of the family: HT Thorne 35, painter, Mrs E Thorne 35, Marion 9, Alice 7, Sidney 4. Eric 1.
They family returned to England in 1920, but only stayed one year before going back to Australia and settling in New South Wales.
My cousin discovered that Henry was a freemason as he attended a masonic dinner on the Waimana. He was a painter’s warehouseman and insurance agent in England, then a commercial traveller and warehouseman in Australia. He worked for a Haberdasher called Mr Becker, first as a door to door salesman, then travelling in a horse and buggy to sell to shops. His youngest son Eric recalled that his father was away from home so much he rarely saw him.
During the war the family moved to Stockton to a rented two storey house by the river. Henry's wife Elizabeth opened a shop. Elizabeth and her children were active in the war effort.
Like his father, Henry sang in the church choir. In Stockton he was a member of the cathedral choir.
He died in Hamilton, NSW, on 9 September 1966, aged 87.
2. . Emily Rennison Thorne, born 1881 in Sunderland, died in 1883
They family returned to England in 1920, but only stayed one year before going back to Australia and settling in New South Wales.
My cousin discovered that Henry was a freemason as he attended a masonic dinner on the Waimana. He was a painter’s warehouseman and insurance agent in England, then a commercial traveller and warehouseman in Australia. He worked for a Haberdasher called Mr Becker, first as a door to door salesman, then travelling in a horse and buggy to sell to shops. His youngest son Eric recalled that his father was away from home so much he rarely saw him.
During the war the family moved to Stockton to a rented two storey house by the river. Henry's wife Elizabeth opened a shop. Elizabeth and her children were active in the war effort.
Like his father, Henry sang in the church choir. In Stockton he was a member of the cathedral choir.
He died in Hamilton, NSW, on 9 September 1966, aged 87.
2. . Emily Rennison Thorne, born 1881 in Sunderland, died in 1883
3. Mary Alice Thorne was born 9 July 1883 in Sunderland, died 1954 Gateshead. My mother wrote:
‘Alice Thorne was stout like her mother. She was very deaf, and this made her very suspicious, as she thought people were laughing at her. She was very house proud and had an old black iron fireplace with brass handles and taps that shone with hours of polishing. In summer she had white lace curtains beautifully starched and draped, and tie-backs with thick cord. There were white roller blinds which were drawn at night. For some reason, she was known as ‘our Shim’. I never found out why and thought it very rude as shimmy is a Geordie word for vests. Underwear was then unmentionable. The kettle was always on the fire. Her cakes were very much in demand.
She married Will Gordon who was a pitman and they had a tin bath hanging in the kitchen so he could wash in front of the fire when his shift was over. He had two little curls in the middle of his forehead. They lived in Robson Street. It was an end house and had quite a big garden which had a wall around and you could play there without anyone knowing you were there.
We went every Monday. My mother met me at school and we went for tea. There would be bread, and the butter and jam were in little fancy china dishes. It was an uncomfortable business as the children sat at the back on an old horse hair sofa which hurt your legs. The back and legs were of beautiful carved wood. When she gave a party a little table was put in the window for the children, and we were told it was Fenwicks Terrace Tea Room.
In later years Uncle Will became gardener and chauffeur to the Lunn family who lived on Durham Road in the house with the lions on the gates.’
Alice and Will’s only child was also called Alice. She looked so much like her mother that it can be hard to tell them apart. This third generation Alice was my Aunty Alice. She married Jim Heel, who had his own construction business. I always liked visiting them, especially at Easter, as they were a source of superior quality Easter eggs.
Hilda Dover, the child of Alice's sister Edith, also lived with them.
‘Alice Thorne was stout like her mother. She was very deaf, and this made her very suspicious, as she thought people were laughing at her. She was very house proud and had an old black iron fireplace with brass handles and taps that shone with hours of polishing. In summer she had white lace curtains beautifully starched and draped, and tie-backs with thick cord. There were white roller blinds which were drawn at night. For some reason, she was known as ‘our Shim’. I never found out why and thought it very rude as shimmy is a Geordie word for vests. Underwear was then unmentionable. The kettle was always on the fire. Her cakes were very much in demand.
She married Will Gordon who was a pitman and they had a tin bath hanging in the kitchen so he could wash in front of the fire when his shift was over. He had two little curls in the middle of his forehead. They lived in Robson Street. It was an end house and had quite a big garden which had a wall around and you could play there without anyone knowing you were there.
We went every Monday. My mother met me at school and we went for tea. There would be bread, and the butter and jam were in little fancy china dishes. It was an uncomfortable business as the children sat at the back on an old horse hair sofa which hurt your legs. The back and legs were of beautiful carved wood. When she gave a party a little table was put in the window for the children, and we were told it was Fenwicks Terrace Tea Room.
In later years Uncle Will became gardener and chauffeur to the Lunn family who lived on Durham Road in the house with the lions on the gates.’
Alice and Will’s only child was also called Alice. She looked so much like her mother that it can be hard to tell them apart. This third generation Alice was my Aunty Alice. She married Jim Heel, who had his own construction business. I always liked visiting them, especially at Easter, as they were a source of superior quality Easter eggs.
Hilda Dover, the child of Alice's sister Edith, also lived with them.
4. Edith Thorne born March 1885 in Hendon, County Durham, died1920 in Gateshead.
Edith was the sister being mourned at my grandparents' wedding. My mother said she knew her husband, Joe Dover, very well.
‘He was very tall and thin. He had been wounded in the war (14-18) and left with a voice that was little more than a high pitched whisper. He worked in advertising at Oxo, and brought home for us puzzles and games which were given away if you bought Oxo. We also had Oxo dolls.’
Edith and Jo had one daughter, Hilda. Hilda was brought up by her mother's older sister Alice.
Edith was the sister being mourned at my grandparents' wedding. My mother said she knew her husband, Joe Dover, very well.
‘He was very tall and thin. He had been wounded in the war (14-18) and left with a voice that was little more than a high pitched whisper. He worked in advertising at Oxo, and brought home for us puzzles and games which were given away if you bought Oxo. We also had Oxo dolls.’
Edith and Jo had one daughter, Hilda. Hilda was brought up by her mother's older sister Alice.
5. Sidney Herbert Thorne was born on 11 June 1887, in Roker. He was a commercial traveller, with pony and trap. My mother’s Uncle Herb, he married Eleanor Carter (Nellie) in 1915. They had two daughters, Nell and Nora. Their first child had been a son, Eric, who hadn't survived.
According to my mother Herbert was:
'... very like Grandfather. When houses were built near the railway sheds at Gosforth, for the railway men, he was one of the first to buy one. The first of the family to own a house. It was a five roomed semi with a big kitchen which had a terracotta floor and window sills. There was a big garden back and front full of flowers. He bought a piece of land at the rear where he grew vegetables.'
According to my mother Herbert was:
'... very like Grandfather. When houses were built near the railway sheds at Gosforth, for the railway men, he was one of the first to buy one. The first of the family to own a house. It was a five roomed semi with a big kitchen which had a terracotta floor and window sills. There was a big garden back and front full of flowers. He bought a piece of land at the rear where he grew vegetables.'
6. Ernest Samuel Thorne was born on 18 May 1889 in Roker. Ernie served in the army from 1915 to 1918. He was at Gallipoli in 1915 and was so impressed by the Australian forces that he decided to emigrate. My cousin notes that he admired their 'character, sense of fun and disrespect for British officers.'
He married Jane Russel (Jean) McCoach in Gateshead on 21 September 1918. They had one child, Maisie. The family emigrated to Australia in 1925. Jean taught and sang in choirs.
Before the war Ernie was employed as an apprentice painter by London & North Eastern Railway. He was laid off for a year but re-employed from 1912-1925. After emigrating he worked as a housepainter.
He died on 25 March 1971, in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Jean died in 1988 in NSW. Maisie died in 1980, NSW.
He married Jane Russel (Jean) McCoach in Gateshead on 21 September 1918. They had one child, Maisie. The family emigrated to Australia in 1925. Jean taught and sang in choirs.
Before the war Ernie was employed as an apprentice painter by London & North Eastern Railway. He was laid off for a year but re-employed from 1912-1925. After emigrating he worked as a housepainter.
He died on 25 March 1971, in Newcastle, NSW, Australia. Jean died in 1988 in NSW. Maisie died in 1980, NSW.
7. Gertrude Thorne was born on 24 Sept 1891, when the family were living in South Shields. She was my grandmother’s favourite sister. She married Bob Armstrong in 1918. They nursed Sid through his final illness. About a year later they moved to Greenock, Scotland, where Bob was offered a job as manager of John Drummond.
They were my mother’s godparents. Gert loved to shop and was a follower of fashion. In Greenock she managed a chocolate shop, selling only the most expensive chocolates. Unable to have children, Bob asked my grandparents to name my mother after her.
Bob and Gert were both very popular with the whole family, and their home in Greenock a favourite destination for holidays. They lived in an impressive, granite tenement, with a view of the Clyde.
Bob, Robert James Armstrong, was born in Glasgow in 1893. He died of cancer in 1955.
They were my mother’s godparents. Gert loved to shop and was a follower of fashion. In Greenock she managed a chocolate shop, selling only the most expensive chocolates. Unable to have children, Bob asked my grandparents to name my mother after her.
Bob and Gert were both very popular with the whole family, and their home in Greenock a favourite destination for holidays. They lived in an impressive, granite tenement, with a view of the Clyde.
Bob, Robert James Armstrong, was born in Glasgow in 1893. He died of cancer in 1955.
8. Florence Annie Thorne (Nance), my grandmother, was born 6 February 1894 in South Shields. She was one of the first pupils at Kelvin Grove School, Bensham, Gateshead. She left school at 14 and got a job in a hardware shop. She married Robert William Seymour in 1920, at St Chad’s Church. Although her siblings survived childhood, some died young. She helped nurse Edith, James, Hilda and Tommy.
She had one child, my mother, Gertrude Nance, in 1924. She was helped through her pregnancy by older sister Alice. Her mother died the same year.
Gertrude Nance caught measles, followed by pneumonia. The health visitor recommended they were allocated a house with a garden. They moved to one of the first council houses in 192. They stayed there for the rest of their lives, as she refused to move again.
She died in 1973 in Whickham, Gateshead. Robert William died in 1963
She had one child, my mother, Gertrude Nance, in 1924. She was helped through her pregnancy by older sister Alice. Her mother died the same year.
Gertrude Nance caught measles, followed by pneumonia. The health visitor recommended they were allocated a house with a garden. They moved to one of the first council houses in 192. They stayed there for the rest of their lives, as she refused to move again.
She died in 1973 in Whickham, Gateshead. Robert William died in 1963
James Lancelot Thorne was born in June 1986, in Gateshead. Surely the only Lancelot in my family. The first of the children to be born after the family had moved to Gateshead. He was a shop assistant in a hardware shop. James bought the blue glass snowdrop vase, which I now possess, from Nichol Maugham’s on Saltwell Road, as a present for his mother. Perhaps he was a favourite son, as no other piece of glass or china was so attached to its donor.
My mother believed that as his health wasn’t good, his mother took him to Alnmouth for a few weeks. The cottage they rented was damp. He contracted TB and died in 1919. He’s buried in Saltwell Cemetery.
My mother believed that as his health wasn’t good, his mother took him to Alnmouth for a few weeks. The cottage they rented was damp. He contracted TB and died in 1919. He’s buried in Saltwell Cemetery.
10. Sarah Hilda Thorne was born on October 29 1898 in Gateshead. She died of TB in April 1921 and is buried in Saltwell Cemetery.
Hilda was the bridesmaid at my grandparents' wedding. At the time of her death she was engaged to Billy Harvey. He remained a friend of the family and was best man at my grandparents' wedding.
Hilda was the bridesmaid at my grandparents' wedding. At the time of her death she was engaged to Billy Harvey. He remained a friend of the family and was best man at my grandparents' wedding.
11. Thomas William Thorne was born on 9 June 1900 in Gateshead.
He was a wireless operator in the navy. He died of malaria in 1925
and is buried in Saltwell Cemetery.
nell & Nora thorne
Nell and Nora were the daughters of Eleanor (Nellie) and Herbert Thorne. Both were named after their mother who said that Eleanor could be shortened to both Nell and Nora. They grew up in Gosforth and went to school there.
Nell met Campbell Graham during the war, when he was in the Tyneside Scottish Regiment. She married him as soon as he was demobbed, in 1947. He was a compositor at Greenock Telegraph. After his retirement they moved to Goole, Yorkshire, to be closer to her sister. Born in 1916, he died in 1988.
Nora had dated a friend of Campbell's, Jack, but later refused to marry him. She trained as a teacher. She taught, and later became headmistress of a school in Scotswood Road, Newcastle. Nora married Peter Brown in 1960. He was harbourmaster at Sunderland. They moved to Hull after he was promoted. Peter died from a heart attack on 24 September 1987.
Nell was born in 1918. She died of a heart attack on 11 October 1992.
Nora was born on 8 December 1919. She died in 2004.
Nell met Campbell Graham during the war, when he was in the Tyneside Scottish Regiment. She married him as soon as he was demobbed, in 1947. He was a compositor at Greenock Telegraph. After his retirement they moved to Goole, Yorkshire, to be closer to her sister. Born in 1916, he died in 1988.
Nora had dated a friend of Campbell's, Jack, but later refused to marry him. She trained as a teacher. She taught, and later became headmistress of a school in Scotswood Road, Newcastle. Nora married Peter Brown in 1960. He was harbourmaster at Sunderland. They moved to Hull after he was promoted. Peter died from a heart attack on 24 September 1987.
Nell was born in 1918. She died of a heart attack on 11 October 1992.
Nora was born on 8 December 1919. She died in 2004.
Alice gordon
Alice Gordon 1906-2003
Jim Heel 1904-1975
This Alice is the third generation Alice. The daughter of Will and Alice Gordon, she was born in Gateshead. Alice worked as a nanny for the family that employed her father. She married Jim Heel on 23 March 1932.. He expanded his father's business, building bungalows in Low Fell, including the one they were to live in. He took on painting and decorating work and opened shops. They were the first in the family to own a car.
They had one daughter, Jean, born in 1934..
Jim's business failed in the 1960's.
After Jim's death Alice moved to Ipswich to be closer to her daughter. She lived in sheltered housing in an almshouse.
Jim Heel 1904-1975
This Alice is the third generation Alice. The daughter of Will and Alice Gordon, she was born in Gateshead. Alice worked as a nanny for the family that employed her father. She married Jim Heel on 23 March 1932.. He expanded his father's business, building bungalows in Low Fell, including the one they were to live in. He took on painting and decorating work and opened shops. They were the first in the family to own a car.
They had one daughter, Jean, born in 1934..
Jim's business failed in the 1960's.
After Jim's death Alice moved to Ipswich to be closer to her daughter. She lived in sheltered housing in an almshouse.
Jean Heel
Jean Heel 21 September 1934
The only child of Alice and Jim Heel, Jean grew up in the house her father built in Orchard Gardens. She was a civil servant until her marriage to Brian Lockie in 1958. They lived in a bungalow in
After her father's business failed they sold their house and moved south.They later divorced. Jean lives in Ipswich.
They had two children:
Christopher James Lockie 1963-1975
Kathryn Ann Lockie 1965-
Kathryn married Paul Sparkes in 1986, in Stowmarket Suffolk. They have three children Christopher Paul Sparkes b. 1988, Zoe Sparkes b. 1989, Thomas James Sparkes b1994.
The only child of Alice and Jim Heel, Jean grew up in the house her father built in Orchard Gardens. She was a civil servant until her marriage to Brian Lockie in 1958. They lived in a bungalow in
After her father's business failed they sold their house and moved south.They later divorced. Jean lives in Ipswich.
They had two children:
Christopher James Lockie 1963-1975
Kathryn Ann Lockie 1965-
Kathryn married Paul Sparkes in 1986, in Stowmarket Suffolk. They have three children Christopher Paul Sparkes b. 1988, Zoe Sparkes b. 1989, Thomas James Sparkes b1994.
Hilda Dover
Hilda was born on 27 April 1917. Her mother, Edith Thorne, had married Jo Dover in 1912. Sadly, Edith died when Hilda was only 3 and she was raised by her aunt, Alice Gordon. Despite continued contact with her father Jo, her childhood wasn't a happy one. When she left school she worked in a shoe shop on Low Fell.
Hilda met Billy Skeldon at a dance. They married in 1944. Billy was born in Morpeth in 1918. He worked as an electrician, but later became a fireman.
They had one son, John, who was born in 1948. They lived in a new house in Coniston Gardens, which had been built by her cousin's husband Jim Heel.
Billy died in 1995. Hilda moved to Bradford to be with her son and his family.
She died in 2002.
Hilda met Billy Skeldon at a dance. They married in 1944. Billy was born in Morpeth in 1918. He worked as an electrician, but later became a fireman.
They had one son, John, who was born in 1948. They lived in a new house in Coniston Gardens, which had been built by her cousin's husband Jim Heel.
Billy died in 1995. Hilda moved to Bradford to be with her son and his family.
She died in 2002.